Systems and Methods of Providing Modified Media Content

ABSTRACT

In a particular embodiment, a method includes displaying a playback rate slide bar having a plurality of increments. The plurality of increments is equally spaced along the playback rate slide bar and each increment of the plurality of increments corresponds to a different playback rate of media content.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/716,995, filed Mar. 12, 2007, andentitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROVIDING MODIFIED MEDIA CONTENT,”which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of providingmodified media content.

BACKGROUND

Media content may be viewed at a recorded rate, at an increased viewingrate in order to scan for particular portions, or at a slowed rate inorder to more closely study the content. A system may allow a user toselect an option to view the media content at twice the recorded speed,for example, and the user typically views the sped-up media contentwithout an accompanying audio track. The system may also allow the userto select another option to view the media content at one-half therecorded speed, without an accompanying audio track. Hence, there is aneed for systems and methods of providing modified media content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of asystem to provide modified media content;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a system to provide modified media content;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of amethod of providing modified media content;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing modified media content;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of a userinterface to provide modified media content;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a second particular illustrative embodiment of auser interface to provide modified media content; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a general computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In a particular embodiment, a set-top box device is disclosed thatincludes a processor and a memory device accessible to the processor.The memory device includes a media content storage to store mediacontent comprising video data and audio data having a recorded rate. Thememory further includes a viewing rate module executable by theprocessor to modify the media content to produce modified media contenthaving a user-selected viewing rate. The modified media content includesmodified video data and modified audio data that are approximatelysynchronized at the viewing rate.

In another particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes aninterface, a processor, and a memory device. The interface is responsiveto a network to receive data related to a user-selected viewing ratefrom a set-top box device, and the processor is coupled to theinterface. The memory device is accessible to the processor and includesa media content storage to store media content including video data andaudio data having a recorded rate. The memory device further includes amedia content storage and retrieval module executable by the processorto retrieve and store user selected media content in the media contentstorage. Additionally, the memory device includes a viewing rate moduleexecutable by the processor to receive the user-selected viewing rate,to modify the video data to produce modified video data having theuser-selected viewing rate, to modify the audio data to produce modifiedaudio data having the user-selected viewing rate, and to synchronize themodified video data and modified audio data to produce modified mediacontent.

In another particular embodiment, a computer-readable medium tangiblyembodies a set of instructions that are executable by a processor toperform a method of providing media content. The method includesreceiving media content from a content source at a set-top box devicevia a network, where the media content includes video data and audiodata having a recorded rate at a set-top box device from a contentsource via a network. The method also includes receiving a userselection of a viewing rate, where the user selection includes anumerical input. Further, the method includes modifying the mediacontent to produce modified media content having the viewing rate, wherethe modified media content includes modified video data and modifiedaudio data synchronized at the viewing rate.

In another particular embodiment, a method of providing modified mediacontent is disclosed that includes providing media content to adestination device via a network, where the media content comprisesvideo data and audio data have a first viewing rate. The method furtherincludes receiving data indicating a selection of a second viewing ratevia the network and modifying the media content to produce modifiedmedia content having approximately the second viewing rate. The modifiedmedia content includes modified video data and modified audio datasynchronized at approximately the second viewing rate.

In still another particular embodiment, a method of providing mediacontent is disclosed that includes receiving media content from acontent source at a set-top box device via a network, where the mediacontent includes video data and audio data having a recorded rate. Themethod also includes receiving a user selection of a viewing rate, wherethe user selection includes a numerical input. Further, the methodincludes modifying the media content to produce modified media contenthaving the viewing rate. The modified media content includes modifiedvideo data and modified audio data synchronized at the viewing rate.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of asystem 100 to provide modified media content. The system 100 includes aset-top box device 106 that communicates with a content source 102 via anetwork 104. In a particular embodiment, the content source 102 can be avideo server or other content source of an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) system. In an illustrative embodiment, the network 104 can be anaccess network of an IPTV system. The set-top box device 106communicates with a remote control device 110. Further the set-top boxdevice 106 provides video, audio, or any combination thereof to adisplay device 108.

The content source 102 includes a processor 114 and memory 116accessible to the processor. The content source 102 further includes anetwork interface 118 responsive to the network 104. The memory 116includes a viewing rate adjustment module 120 executable by theprocessor 114 to adjust a viewing rate of selected media content. Thememory 116 further includes an audio adjustment module 122 executable bythe processor 114 to preserve a pitch associated with the audio as thespeech rate of the audio is changed. The memory 116 further includes acontent storage and retrieval module 124 to store media content at amedia content storage 126 and to retrieve selected media content fromthe media content storage 126.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, a user may request mediacontent via the remote control device 110, which communicates with theset-top box device 106. The media content may include video data andaudio data having a first viewing rate. In a particular embodiment, theuser may request the media content from a webpage interface via thenetwork 104. The set-top box device 106 may send data indicating therequest to the content source 102 via the network 104. The contentsource 102 may store the requested media content at the media contentstorage 126. The processor 114 may retrieve the requested media contentby executing instructions associated with in the content storage andretrieval module 124. The processor 114 may send the requested mediacontent to the set-top box device 106. The user may view the requestedmedia content at the display device 108.

The user may initiate a request to change from the first viewing rate toa second viewing rate. In an illustrative embodiment, the user may enterthe second viewing rate via the remote control device 110. The set-topbox device 106 may receive a user entry specifying the second viewingrate and send data related to the user entry to the content source 102.The content source 102 may receive the data related to the user entry.In response to receiving the data related to the user entry, theprocessor 114 may modify the media content to produce modified mediacontent having approximately the second viewing rate, by executinginstructions associated with the viewing rate adjustment module 120. Themodified media content may include modified video data and modifiedaudio data. The processor 114 may synchronize the modified video dataand the modified audio data by executing instructions associated withthe viewing rate adjustment module 120. Synchronizing is a process foraligning the modified audio data with corresponding images within themodified video data.

For example, in a particular illustrative non-limiting embodiment, if aportion of the media content features a scene in which a person isdelivering a speech, the synchronized modified media content may containmodified video data featuring the scene of the person delivering thespeech, and modified audio data corresponding with the images of themodified video data.

In a particular embodiment, the processor 114 may adjust a pitch of themodified audio data, by executing instructions associated with the audioadjustment module 122. In a particular embodiment, a pitch adjustmentmay be applied that is based on a first viewing rate and a secondviewing rate. In an illustrative embodiment, the processor 114 mayadjust the pitch so that each voice within the modified audio datasounds similar to a corresponding voice within audio data of the mediacontent before modification. In a particular illustrative example, thepitch adjustment may preserve the pitch of the audio data. The audioadjustment module 122 can be executed by the processor 114 to preservethe pitch of the audio by maintaining the original pitch, the formants,and other aspects of speech that reflect the original speechcharacteristics of the speaker, allowing the modified audio data tosound like “natural speech.” In similar fashion, the processor 114 mayadjust the pitch associated with non-speech sounds included in themodified audio data to preserve the pitch of the audio data beforemodification.

There are a variety of techniques that may be employed for preserving apitch of speech while changing a speaking rate, familiar to thoseskilled in the art. Techniques that may be employed include: time domainoverlap and add techniques such as Waveform Similarity OverLap-Add(WSOLA) Technique and Pitch Synchronous OverLap Add (PSOLA) Technique;frequency domain techniques such as Linear Predictive Coding (LPC), andHarmonic Plus Noise Model (HNM) techniques; other pitch correctingtechniques; or any combination thereof

The content source 102 may provide the modified media content to theset-top box device 106 via the network 104. The user may view themodified media content at the display device 108. The user may hear themodified audio data via the display device 108.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the user may request the secondviewing rate to be faster than the recorded rate of the media content.For example, the second viewing rate is 1.2 times as fast as therecorded rate, i.e., 20% faster than the recorded rate. The modifiedvideo data may be viewed at a rate of 1.2 times the recorded rate andthe modified audio data may be heard at a rate of 1.2 times the recordedrate. With pitch adjustment applied to the modified audio data, thepitch of the modified audio rate may sound like natural speech, i.e.speech having preserved pitch characteristics that are similar to thespeech as recorded.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the user may decide to changethe viewing rate to another viewing rate that is 1.5 times the recordedrate, i.e., 50% faster than the recorded rate. The content source mayprovide the modified media content at a viewing rate of 1.5 times therecorded rate. The set-top box device 106 may provide the modified mediacontent to the display device 108. The user may view the modified videodata at 1.5 times the recorded rate and hear the accompanying audiosoundtrack at 1.5 times the recorded rate. The modified audio data mayhave a pitch adjustment to preserve the recorded pitch in the modifiedaudio data so that the speech sounds natural, i.e., each voice heardwithin in its expected pitch range, rather than at a higher pitch thanrecorded.

In general, a user may have flexibility in viewing the media content.For example, the user may select a second viewing rate that is fasterthan the recorded rate or slower than the recorded rate. In anillustrative example, the second viewing rate may be less than twice therecorded rate. In another illustrative example, the viewing rate may beless than the recorded rate, and the video data may appear as if actionsare occurring in “slow motion.” The accompanying modified audio data maybe delivered synchronously with the modified video data, and the pitchof the modified audio data may be adjusted to preserve the pitch rangeof the media content as recorded.

In an illustrative example, the user may choose to increase the viewingrate incrementally. For example, if selected media content has arecorded viewing rate, the user may adjust the viewing rateincrementally, such as by increments of 0.1, 0.05, other increments, orany combination thereof. For example, a user may adjust the viewing rateto approximately 1.15 times the recorded viewing rate (approximately 15%faster than the recorded viewing rate). In this manner, the user may“fine tune” the viewing rate. In a particular illustrative embodiment,the increments may be defined within the set-top box device 106 or at acontent source 102, and a user may select a desired viewing rate bydepressing a key of the remote control device 110 multiple times, untilthe desired viewing rate is selected. In another particular illustrativeembodiment, a user may enter a desired viewing rate by providing anumerical input.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the set-top box device 106 mayreceive a user-selected viewing rate via the remote control device 110,and the set-top box device 106 may transmit data related to theuser-selected viewing rate to the content source 102. At some point in apresentation of the modified media content, the user may decide toreturn to the original viewing rate. By entering the original viewingrate, i.e., viewing rate of 1.0 times the recorded rate, the mediacontent delivered will no longer be modified, and the content source 102can provide the media content at the original recorded rate to theset-top box device 106.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, a playback rate may be selectedfrom a list of available media content, where each item in the list hasa different playback rate. In a particular embodiment, a contentprovider, such as the content source 102, may provide a media contentselection having a replay speed that is slower than a recorded rate anda second media content selection having a replay speed that is fasterthan a recorded rate. For example, a content provider may offerpre-recorded lectures, teaching materials, and other learning content ata slow rate (i.e. a note-taking speed). The content provider may alsooffer pre-recorded lectures, teaching materials, and other learningcontent at a faster rate (i.e. a review/refresh speed). The contentsource 102 may provide a selectable menu that includes the first and thesecond media content selections from which a user may choose aparticular selection, allowing the user to realize the benefits of themedia content having the adjusted playback rate without direct controlof the playback rate.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a system 200 to provide modified media content. The system 200includes a set-top box device 206 that communicates with a contentsource 202 via a network 204. In a particular embodiment, the contentsource 202 can be a video server or other content source of an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) system. In an illustrative embodiment, thenetwork 204 can be an access network of an IPTV system. The set-top boxdevice 206 communicates with a remote control device 210. Additionally,the set-top box device 206 provides video, audio, or any combinationthereof to a display device 208. The set-top box device 206 includes anetwork interface 212 that is responsive to the network 204. The set-topbox device 206 also includes a processor 216 that is coupled to thenetwork interface 212 and a memory 218 that is accessible to theprocessor 216. The set-top box device 206 communicates with the remotecontrol device 210 via a remote interface 214 and provides video, audioor any combination thereof to the display device 208 via a displayinterface 220.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, a user may select media contentvia the remote control device 210. In an illustrative embodiment, theuser may select the media content via an electronic program guide (EPG)displayed at the display device 208. The set-top box device 206 mayrequest the selected media content from the content source 202 via thenetwork 204. The set-top box device 206 may download the selected mediacontent and store the selected media content at the media contentstorage 228.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the user may view the selectedmedia content at a recorded rate. The recorded rate, also referred toherein as a standard viewing rate, is an unmodified viewing rate. In aparticular embodiment, the user may enter a viewing rate selection viathe remote control device. The viewing rate selection may be faster thanthe standard viewing rate or slower than the standard viewing rate. Forexample, the viewer may enter a viewing rate selection that is fasterthan the standard viewing rate in order to scan the media content insearch of a particular portion.

The set-top box device 206 may receive the viewing rate selection viathe remote interface 214. In response to receiving the viewing rateselection, the processor 216, executing instructions associated with theviewing rate module 222, may modify the video data and the audio data,producing modified media content having the selected viewing rate.Modifying the media content may include removing or adding frames fromthe video data, and removing or adding portions of the audio data. Theprocessor 216 may synchronize the modified video data and modified audiodata, producing modified media content that is synchronized. In aparticular embodiment, the processor 216 may execute instructionsassociated with the audio adjustment module 224 to preserve a pitch ofthe audio data. The modified audio data that is pitch-adjusted andsynchronized with the modified video data can be delivered to thedisplay device 208 via the display interface 220. In a particularillustrative embodiment, the user may view the media content at aselected viewing rate of 1.2 times the standard rate, including themodified video data and the modified video data with pitch preservationto eliminate a “chipmunk effect,” in which reproduced voices are pitchedhigher than originally recorded.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the user may enter a viewingrate selection that is slower than the standard viewing rate. Inresponse to the selected viewing rate, the set-top box device 206 mayproduce modified media content that includes modified video data andmodified audio data having the slower rate. The set-top box device 206may adjust the pitch of the modified audio data so that voices are in apitch range that approximates the pitch range associated with thestandard viewing rate, i.e., preserving the pitch as originallyrecorded. The modified media content delivered to the display device 208may then appear to move in slow motion, with the modified audio datasynchronized with the modified video data. While the modified audio datamay be received at a slower rate, the voice pitch range may be preservedas it was recorded, rather than resembling a “lethargic” pitch typicallyassociated with a slowed-down audio track.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the set-top box device 206 maydownload media content and store the media content at the digital videorecorder 226, where the media content can reside until the user wishesto view it. The processor 216 may retrieve the recorded media contentand may modify the media content in response to receiving auser-selected viewing rate. In a particular illustrative embodiment, theprocessor 216 may modify the media content stored in the digital videorecorder 226, or in media content storage 228, and store modified mediacontent in media content storage 228 for playback at a future time.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the user may be able to selectviewing rates in discrete increments of the user's choosing. Hence, theuser may enter successive viewing rate selections and view the modifiedcontent displayed at successive viewing rates. The viewer may be able tofine-tune the viewing rate to a viewing rate, other than the recordedrate, that is comfortable for the viewer, and may listen to theaccompanying audio data. In an illustrative embodiment, the viewer mayselect a viewing rate that is between one and two times the standardviewing rate. In another illustrative embodiment, the viewer may choosea viewing rate selection that is slower than the standard viewing rateto watch a slow-motion version of the video data and hear accompanyingaudio data slowed down, synchronized and corrected for pitchpreservation.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a particular embodiment of a method ofmodifying media content. At block 300, a content source may providemedia content including video data and audio data having a first viewingrate to a destination device via a network. Moving to block 302, thecontent source may receive data related to a user generated inputspecifying a second viewing rate via the network. Proceeding to block304, the content source may modify the media content to produce modifiedmedia content at the second viewing rate, including modified video dataand modified audio data synchronized at the second viewing rate. In aparticular embodiment, the content source may also apply a pitchadjustment to the modified audio data. Moving to block 306, the contentsource may provide the modified media content to the destination device.The method terminates at 308.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a method of modifying media content. At block 400, a set-top boxdevice receives media content including video data and audio data from acontent source. Moving to block 402, the set-top box device receives auser-selected viewing rate. Proceeding to block 404, the set-top boxdevice modifies the media content to produce modified media contenthaving the user-selected viewing rate, including modified video data andmodified audio data approximately synchronized at the viewing rate.Moving to block 406, in a particular embodiment, the set-top box deviceapplies a pitch adjustment to the audio data to preserve pitch,providing modified audio data having a pitch similar to audio datahaving a standard viewing rate. Proceeding to block 408, the set-top boxdevice provides the modified media content to a display device.

Moving to decision block 410, the set-top box device determines whetherit has received a user selection of a new viewing rate. If a new viewingrate is received, the method returns to block 404 and the set-top boxdevice modifies the media content to the new viewing rate, synchronizingthe modified video and audio. Thus, the user may fine-tune the viewingrate. Returning to decision block 410, if a new viewing rate is notreceived, the method terminates at 412.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of a userinterface to provide modified media content. A system 500 includes adisplay device 502, a set-top box device 504, and a remote interface506. In operation, a user may enter a viewing rate selection via theremote interface 506, through depressing a viewing rate button 510 onthe remote interface 506. The set-top box device 504 may receive theviewing rate selection from the remote input device 506 and may modifymedia content, producing modified media content at the selected viewingrate. The set-top box device 504 may output the modified media contentto the display device 502, and may also output viewing rate data 508 fordisplay by the display device. In a particular illustrative exampleshown, the viewing rate is 1.2 times a standard rate. In the exampleshown, the user may view the media content at the viewing rate of 1.2times the standard rate, with the accompanying audio data sped-up to therate of 1.2 times the recorded rate and pitch-adjusted to enhanceintelligibility of speech in the audio data.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, depressing the button 510successive times may increment or decrement the viewing rate by a fixeddifferential. For instance, the differential may be 0.2 times therecorded rate, and successively depressing the button 510 may change theviewing rate to 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, etc. times the recorded rate.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a second particular illustrative embodiment of auser interface to provide modified media content. A system 600 includesa display device 602, a set-top box device 604, and a remote inputdevice 606. In operation, a user may depress a viewing rate selectionbutton 610, resulting in a viewing rate slider bar 608 appearing at thebottom of the display device screen. In the example shown, the selectedviewing rate is 1.2, with the numerical value of the selected viewingrate appearing beneath a sliding pointer 614. An increment/decrementbutton 612 can be used to increase or decrease a selected viewing rate,with a corresponding change in position of the sliding pointer 614 onthe slider bar 608. In another particular illustrative embodiment, theuser interface may have another visual form, which may conform to a userinterface for adjusting other variables of the display device, e.g.,brightness, contrast, volume, or other variables. For example, a userinterface may include a plurality of soft knobs, soft pushbuttons, orother visual, audible or other representations. In another particularillustrative embodiment, the interface for adjusting the replay ratecould include a numeric input, an adjustable spectrum, other inputs, orany combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 7, an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem is shown and is designated 700. The computer system 700 caninclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computersystem 700 to perform any one or more of the methods or computer basedfunctions disclosed herein. The computer system 700, or any portionthereof, may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g.,using a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network, toother computer systems or peripheral devices, including one or morecontent sources or set-top box devices, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 700 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box device (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, alaptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wirelesstelephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner,a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, aweb appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machinecapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particularembodiment, the computer system 700 can be implemented using electronicdevices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, whilea single computer system 700 is illustrated, the team “system” shallalso be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems thatindividually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructionsto perform one or more computer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the computer system 700 may include aprocessor 702, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system 700 caninclude a main memory 704 and a static memory 706 that can communicatewith each other via a bus 708. As shown, the computer system 700 mayfurther include a video display unit 710, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat paneldisplay, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 700 may include an input device 712,such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 714, such as a mouse.Further, the computer system 700 can include a wireless input device715, e.g., a remote control device. When the computer system 700, or anyportion thereof, is embodied in a set-top box device, the cursor controldevice 714 can be a remote control device. The computer system 700 canalso include a disk drive unit 716, a signal generation device 718, suchas a speaker or remote control, and a network interface device 720.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 7, the disk drive unit716 may include a computer-readable medium 722 in which one or more setsof instructions 724, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 724 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 724 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 704,the static memory 706, and/or within the processor 702 during executionby the computer system 700. The main memory 704 and the processor 702also may include computer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 724 or receives and executes instructions 724responsive to a propagated signal; so that a device connected to anetwork 726 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 726.Further, the instructions 724 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 726 via the network interface device 720.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives may be considered a distributionmedium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

In accordance with various embodiments, the methods described herein maybe implemented as one or more software programs running on a computerprocessor. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limitedto, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Furthermore, alternative softwareimplementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

It should also be noted that software that implements the disclosedmethods may optionally be stored on a tangible storage medium, such as:a magnetic medium, such as a disk or tape; a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk; or a solid state medium, such as a memory cardor other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories. The software may also utilize a signal containing computerinstructions. A digital file attachment to e-mail or otherself-contained information archive or set of archives is considered adistribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storagemedium or distribution medium as listed herein, and other equivalentsand successor media, in which the software implementations herein may bestored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the specification is not limited tosuch standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet andother packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML,HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed hereinare considered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be reduced. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus,the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimedsubject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowedby law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by thebroadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and theirequivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoingdetailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: displaying a playback rateslide bar having a plurality of increments, wherein the plurality ofincrements is equally spaced along the playback rate slide bar, whereineach increment of the plurality of increments corresponds to a differentplayback rate of media content, and wherein each consecutive change inthe plurality of increments corresponds to a change in a playback rateof approximately ten percent or less.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving a selection of a presentation rate of the mediacontent, wherein the selection is based on the playback rate slide bar.3. The method of claim 2, further comprising modifying the media contentto produce modified media content having the presentation rate.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the change in the playback rate is fivepercent or less of a recorded rate of the media content.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein a presentation rate of the media content isdetermined based on a position of a sliding point on the playback rateslide bar.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the position of the slidingpointer is user selectable.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein aparticular increment of the plurality of increments corresponds to arecorded rate of the media content.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe playback rate slide bar represents a range from a recorded viewingrate of the media content to twice the recorded viewing rate of themedia content.
 9. A set-top box device comprising: a processor; and amemory device accessible to the processor, wherein the memory deviceincludes: a viewing rate module executable by the processor to present aplayback rate slide bar having a plurality of increments, wherein theplurality of increments is equally spaced along the playback rate slidebar, wherein each increment of the plurality of increments correspondsto a different playback rate of media content, and wherein eachconsecutive change in the plurality of increments corresponds to achange in a playback rate of approximately ten percent or less.
 10. Theset-top box device of claim 9, wherein the memory device furtherincludes media content storage to store the media content, the mediacontent comprising video data having a recorded rate, audio data havingthe recorded rate, or a combination thereof.
 11. The set-top box deviceof claim 9, further comprising a digital video recorder to store themedia content and to provide the media content to the processor at arecorded rate of the media content, wherein the digital video recorderis accessible by the processor.
 12. The set-top box device of claim 9,further comprising an output interface to provide modified audio dataassociated with the media content, modified video data associated withthe media content, or a combination thereof, to a presentation device.13. The set-top box device of claim 9, wherein the viewing rate moduleis further executable by the processor to: determine a presentation rateof the media content based on a position of a sliding pointer relativeto the playback rate slide bar; and providing the media content at thepresentation rate to a presentation device.
 14. The set-top box deviceof claim 13, wherein modifying the media content includes modifyingvideo data of the media content to be presented at the presentationrate, modifying audio data of the media content to be presented at thepresentation rate, synchronizing the modified video data and themodified audio data, adjusting a pitch of the modified audio data,adding or removing a portion of the audio data, or any combinationthereof.
 15. A computer-readable storage device comprising instructionsthat are executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:initiating display of a playback rate slide bar having a plurality ofincrements, wherein the plurality of increments is equally spaced alongthe playback rate slide bar, wherein each increment of the plurality ofincrements corresponds to a different playback rate of media content,and wherein each consecutive change in the plurality of incrementscorresponds to a change in a playback rate of approximately ten percentor less; and determining a first presentation rate of the media contentbased on a position of a slide bar pointer along the playback rate slidebar.
 16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein theoperations further comprise receiving media content from a contentsource at a set-top box device, the media content having a recordedrate.
 17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein thecontent source is an interne protocol television source.
 18. Thecomputer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: initiating a presentation of the media content at afirst presentation rate; and changing from the first presentation rateto a second presentation rate based on the position of the slide barpointer along the playback rate slide bar.
 19. The computer-readablestorage device of claim 15, wherein the playback rate slide bar enablesselection of a presentation rate of the media content to be a recordedrate of the media content, a first rate faster than the recorded rate, asecond rate slower than the recorded rate, or a combination thereof. 20.The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: receiving a request for the media content; and inresponse to receiving the request, providing: a first option to playbackthe media content at a faster rate than a recorded rate of the mediacontent; and a second option to playback the media content at a slowerrate than the recorded rate of the media content.